Case studies

Theme: Supply-chain disruptions

Mode:  Air Freight

Sector: Automotive, tier manufacturer

Challenge Solution Outcome
Challenge
  • Deplenished VMI inventories in N.America as a result of Covid impact on Asian manufacturing
  • Global shortage of sea containers, and vessels delays resulted in further supply-chain interruptions
  • Avoid manufacturing interruption
Solution
  • GKNFS coordinate multiple part numbers from different global suppliers via air freight from Asia and Europe
  • Arrangements made for air cargo shipments, in some cases with less than 4 days door to door transit time
Outcome
  • Despite limitations in available cargo space due to Covid, GKNFS successfully procured capacity for a total of 28 air shipments or 151 tons, delivered within transit time requested
  • Client was able to maintain uninterrupted production

Theme:  Value Engineering

Mode: Road Freight

Sector: Automotive, tier manufacturer

Challenge Solution Outcome
Challenge

  • Client faced rising costs of manufacturing

  • GKNFS challenged to provide transport savings for N.American Plant

Solution
  • Close analysis of all active road-lanes made, reviewing the trailer utilisation of each lane
  • A list of potential lanes which could be changed from FTL to LTL, based on trailer utilization
  • Client Plant marginally increased buffer stock to cover longer transit time of LTL service
Outcome

  • A total of 9 lanes were adapted to run as LTL

  • Annual freight savings of nearly $250k achieved for client

Theme: Value Engineering

Mode: Ocean Freight

Sector: Industrial

Challenge Solution Outcome
Challenge

  • Heavy goods (8t.) being shipped from US>UK

  • Maximising ocean container utilization, given road-freight  weight constraints (24t)

Solution
  • GKN implant team identified and negotiated with shipping line to increase to 4 items per ocean container (32t)
  • Port of arrival discharges container at POA and holds stock at Port
  • Importer arranges call-off of 3 items to conform with max. road laden weights
Outcome
  • Saving of 1 container per 4 shipped, giving 25% ocean freight cost saving

Theme: Supply-chain disruptions

Mode: Ocean Freight

Sector: Automotive, tier manucfacturer

Challenge Solution Outcome
Challenge

  • Covid caused huge delays on the regular West Coast port in the US increasing transit time & costs

  • Due to these delays, North American client risked production disruptions

Solution

  • Team identified alternative East Coast port solutions without increasing transit time & costs

  • A number of carrier partners were trialed to ensure a reliable and quality service was available

Outcome

  • The GKNFS team amended the routing, adding a new East Coast destination port

  • Delays were minimised

  • Transit time reduced overall

  • Costs managed